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Can I Add Sugar & Sweeteners to My Vanilla Extract?

Can I Add Sugar & Sweeteners to My Vanilla Extract?

Commercial vanilla extract makers can legally add corn syrup, sugar, and artificial colors to their extract and still call it "pure" — as long as they meet the FDA's bean and alcohol requirements. Here's why they do it, and why home extractors don't need to.
Peruvian vs. Mexican V. Pompona Vanilla Beans: The Rioja vs. The Oaxaca

Peruvian vs. Mexican V. Pompona Vanilla Beans: The Rioja vs. The Oaxaca

Same species, two very different beans. Discover how Peruvian and Mexican V. pompona vanilla beans compare in size, shape, and flavor — and which spirits bring out the best in each when making your own vanilla extract.
The Best Father's Day Gift: Make Vanilla Extract With Dad

The Best Father's Day Gift: Make Vanilla Extract With Dad

Make homemade vanilla extract with dad this Father's Day — a simple, personal, and lasting gift that captures a moment in time. Choose beans based on his favorite desserts, use his favorite spirit, and create something that will remind you of him every time you bake.
Can I Blend My Spirits/Alcohols When Making Vanilla Extract?

Can I Blend My Spirits/Alcohols When Making Vanilla Extract?

Got a half bottle of one vodka and a half bottle of another? Here's what you need to know before blending spirits for your homemade vanilla extract.
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Uganda Vanilla vs. Tanzania Vanilla: Two African Vanilla Beans, Two Very Different Extracts

Uganda Vanilla vs. Tanzania Vanilla: Two African Vanilla Beans, Two Very Different Extracts

Ugandan and Tanzanian vanilla beans are both V. planifolia from East Africa — but they couldn't taste more different. Compare their flavor profiles, best uses, and ideal spirits to find your perfect African vanilla extract.
The Birthday Gift That Lasts for Decades: Make Vanilla Extract for Someone You Love

The Birthday Gift That Lasts for Decades: Make Vanilla Extract for Someone You Love

A homemade vanilla extract gift box is the perfect birthday gift — personal, beautiful, and built to last for decades. Learn how to choose the right vanilla beans, monthly blend, jar, label, spirit, and finishing touches to create a birthday memory that never expires.
5 Springtime Vanilla Extracts You Must Make This Season

5 Springtime Vanilla Extracts You Must Make This Season

Spring calls for light, floral, and delicately sweet vanilla extracts. Here are 5 origin-and-spirit combinations to start now — perfect for macarons, berry tarts, whipped creams, and warm-weather cocktails.
Why Hurricanes Never Cross the Equator — And What That Means for Vanilla Farmers

Why Hurricanes Never Cross the Equator — And What That Means for Vanilla Farmers

Hurricanes and typhoons cannot cross the equator — a fact of atmospheric physics that has profound implications for vanilla farming. Learn why equatorial growing regions are storm-protected, and what Cyclone Enawo's 2017 destruction of Madagascar's vanilla crop revealed about global supply chain fragility.
Why Is There Condensation Inside My Vanilla Extract Jar?

Why Is There Condensation Inside My Vanilla Extract Jar?

Noticed condensation inside your sealed vanilla extract jar? It's completely normal. Learn the science behind why moisture forms inside a closed jar with alcohol and vanilla beans — and what it means for your extract.
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Hawaiian vs. Mexican Veracruz Vanilla Beans: Same Species, Worlds Apart in Flavor

Hawaiian vs. Mexican Veracruz Vanilla Beans: Same Species, Worlds Apart in Flavor

Both Hawaiian and Mexican Veracruz vanilla beans are Vanilla planifolia — but their terroir creates dramatically different flavor profiles. Learn which beans pair best with which spirits for crafting exceptional homemade vanilla extract.
Can You Use Flavored Spirits to Make Vanilla Extract? The Truth About Flavored Vodkas, Rums & More

Can You Use Flavored Spirits to Make Vanilla Extract? The Truth About Flavored Vodkas, Rums & More

Strawberry vodka + vanilla beans sounds amazing. But most flavored spirits use artificial flavoring that turns metallic over months of infusion. Learn which spirits actually work — and the right way to make flavored vanilla extract using real freeze-dried fruit and cacao nibs.
Madagascar vs. Tanzania: What's the Difference Between Two V.planifolia Vanilla Beans?

Madagascar vs. Tanzania: What's the Difference Between Two V.planifolia Vanilla Beans?

Both Madagascar and Tanzania grow V.planifolia vanilla — but terroir makes all the difference. Discover how these two origins compare in flavor, complexity, and best uses for extract making and baking.